An unexpected diagnosis
When Ione and her wife Janet climbed Mount Teide, in Tenerife – Spain’s highest mountain, they expected breathtaking views. Instead, Ione suddenly began to feel unwell. “I started to feel really sick, so we couldn’t stay there for very long,” she recalls. “When we got back to London, I noticed my heart was skipping beats, and I got worried. I went to the doctor, and unfortunately he told us ‘It seems that you have a murmur.’”
That was the beginning of Ione’s journey with St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Further tests revealed a dilated ascending aorta and moderate to severe regurgitation, where blood leaks back into the heart. For years, Ione attended annual scans to monitor the condition. “It grew, but only a little,” she explains. “Now it’s reached a size where it’s critical, and I do need to have surgery.”
Although the news was hard to hear, meeting her surgeon brought comfort:
“We met Mr Lal, who will be doing the operation. He’s amazing – we’re so pleased he’s the one looking after her.”Janet
Giving back through Hike for Health
It was during one of Ione’s hospital appointments that they spotted a leaflet for Hike for Health. “I said, ‘Hey Ione, we should sign up,’” Janet remembers. “We didn’t know the date of her operation, but thought if it clashed we’d just miss it – otherwise we’d do it together.”
On a sunny September Sunday, they joined hundreds of walkers in London and took on the 10km route. “We really enjoyed it,” Ione smiles. “We could probably have managed 15km, but we decided to stop at 10 and go for a nice lunch afterwards!” The atmosphere was a highlight. “The marshals were absolutely lovely,” Janet says. “It must be tiring standing there all day, but they were so encouraging and kind.”
Their fundraising page quickly filled with generous donations from friends, colleagues and family. “We were amazed by how generous people were,” Janet says. “Loads and loads of support came in.” Together, they raised over £1,200 to support St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Looking ahead with hope
On their JustGiving page, Janet wrote:
“Ione was due to have a heart operation at St Bartholomew's, and we were experiencing first-hand the incredible work this hospital does for patients and families. When we heard about this walk, it felt like the perfect way to give something back, together.”Janet
At the time, Ione was preparing for surgery to replace her aortic root and fit a mechanical valve. Now, following a successful operation, she is recovering well and looking ahead with optimism.
“The surgery has gone well and I’m making a good recovery,” says Ione. “The staff at St Bartholomew’s treated me like a Queen. I am very grateful to the entire team. Without exception, they love their profession and are completely dedicated to giving excellent service.”
Before the operation, Ione shared her hopes for the future: “This operation should see me through the next 40 years or so. We’re already in our 60s, so that feels amazing.”
The couple say they would love to take part in the walk again next year. “We plan to do the walk again next year,” Janet says, before adding with a laugh, “Unless, of course, we’re on holiday somewhere nice.”